Filip Kliček - Secondment from GENOS to NKUA

Filip Kliček from partner GENOS completed his secondment at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, as part of the EXPAND-EV project and shared his insights and impressions on this experience.

"Not long ago, I had the amazing chance to participate in a secondment emphasising practical training in proteomics techniques. From sample preparation and LC-MS analysis to data processing, interpretation, and visualisation, this experience guided me through every significant stage of the workflow.

By means of practical experience, I came to know well how to perform proteomics study on biological samples. From the meticulous handling of biological material to the interpretation of sophisticated mass spectrometry data, I was personally engaged in every stage. One of the highlights of this visit was the chance to interact and talk about future partnerships, therefore bridging my home institution and the host lab.

Over the course of my training, I acquired great theoretical knowledge and practical abilities in biological sample preparation for mass spectrometry-based proteomics. Working directly with advanced tools like the Bruker nanoElute 2 system and the Bruker timsTOF flex mass spectrometer, I grew to understand important operational features of LC-MS. Working with the FragPipe platform to examine raw MS data for database searching, peptide-spectrum matching, and protein identification gave me also opportunity to improve my bioinformatics knowledge.

Outside the lab, I engaged actively in the scientific life of the host organisation. I regularly went to Journal Club meetings and gave a talk called "Introduction to Glycobiology" at one of them. Particularly thrilling and closely in line with the more general objectives of the EXPAND-EV project were cooperative talks on integrating glycomics techniques and mass spectrometry-based proteomics.

Reflecting back, this secondment completely fulfilled my hopes and directly helped me develop as a scholar. It helped the goals of the work packages on training and the characterisation of extracellular vesicles under the EXPAND-EV project. Importantly, it improved my capacity to support future scientific goals, especially in selecting appropriate cellular models for pathology research.

This visit not only increased my technical and analytical abilities but also widened my professional network, therefore strongly supporting interesting future partnerships."